One-Way Flight to Amsterdam, Aug. 2010?

[janmcn]

Flights from TX (HOU, DFW, AUS) etc. to Amsterdam are horrendously expensive for one way. Can you still book RT and only use the first half or will they somehow "get you" later? The "flight police"?

[Gardyloo]

Originally Posted by janmcn

Flights from TX (HOU, DFW, AUS) etc. to Amsterdam are horrendously expensive for one way. Can you still book RT and only use the first half or will they somehow "get you" later? The "flight police"?

You can toss the return and not worry about it; it's technically against the rules but seldom pursued.

However, this is a common question with a relatively easy answer. Price two separate tickets, one a one-way to Dublin, then a second a one-way from Dublin to Amsterdam. Watch your flight times (arrivals/departures) since you'll need to reclaim your bags at DUB and re-check them to AMS. It's even better to arrive in Dublin and fly out the next morning.

For arbitrary dates in August, I can see, e.g. DFW-DUB (via Chicago) for around $750 on AA, connecting on British Midland to Amsterdam via London for $131, so total around $880, which is probably around $400 less than a round trip ticket to AMS, half of which you would then pitch.

Delta, American, and Aer Lingus offer similarly-priced one-way flights from N. America to Dublin from several US airports.

[scottbee]

Originally Posted by janmcn

Flights from TX (HOU, DFW, AUS) etc. to Amsterdam are horrendously expensive for one way. Can you still book RT and only use the first half or will they somehow "get you" later? The "flight police"?

Ah yes, the one way problem. HOWEVER, there are always options to Europe to get around this. The two solutions are 1) Charter companies, 2) some of the carriers that don't impose return requirements for discounted coach.

Option 1;
How about flying via MCO/Orlando, and Martinair Holland? I see one-way MCO-AMS for mid-Aug for $642. The other charter company I can think of that serves AMS from North America is TS/Air Transat, which would involve a change in YYZ/Toronto or YUL/Montreal.

Option 2;
via a carrier that doesn't require return tickets for cheap coach across the Atlantic. EI/Aer Lingus (via DUB/Dublin) and FI/Icelandair via KEF/Keflavik

[LHT28]

Not much cheaper for a RT out of IAH but maybe in the spring prices will go down.
I would monitor the prices then decide.

Are you staying in Europe is that why you need a ow?

If not how are you getting back to TX?

Lyn

[janmcn]

Taking a cruise from Amsterdam to NYC, so don't need any return ticket from Europe...easy to get from NYC to Austin (home) on our own.

[LHT28]

Originally Posted by janmcn

Taking a cruise from Amsterdam to NYC, so don't need any return ticket from Europe...easy to get from NYC to Austin (home) on our own.

Why not look at flights
IAH or DFW to AMS
Then NYC to IAH or DFW
on the same ticket rather than throwing away the return portion of RT to AMS & having to book extra flights

[janmcn]

The multi-destination is really expensive ($2600-2700) too, and I can use miles for one portion (the trip TO AMS) which leaves a cheap flight to return from NYC.

[scottbee]

Originally Posted by LHT28

Why not look at flights
IAH or DFW to AMS
Then NYC to IAH or DFW
on the same ticket rather than throwing away the return portion of RT to AMS & having to book extra flights

You wont be able to get a single ticket DFW-AMS NYC-DFW as the unflown portion is not the shortest of the three legs. See the sticky on "Open Jaw" flights.


Still think it would be hard to beat the price of flying JetBlue/Martinair via MCO on the way out

Aug 16/2010
B6/1416 AUS 1505-1846 MCO $125
MP/636 MCO 2030-1130+1 AMS $642

Total $767

[LHT28]

Originally Posted by scottbee

You wont be able to get a single ticket DFW-AMS NYC-DFW as the unflown portion is not the shortest of the three legs. See the sticky on "Open Jaw" flights.

I did not mention OJ

[janmcn]

Thanks, NOW I understand that language about the Open Jaw restrictions...didn't quite understand it before.

Don't want to do Martinair...too many 'iffy' comments about them and the planes.

Iceland Air is looking like the best "deals" for now...

[frugaltravel]

Though I know some people on this board raise tons of red flags about them, if you are a wise consumer and do your homework, you can find one-way tickets on airlines like British Air for right about $800 including all taxes through consolidators or through travel agents who use consolidators. Yes, do your homework. Yes, perhaps check info about consolidators at the US Air Consolidators Association website. Yes, check references. Yes, know what you are buying. But if you are not using a travel agent, you should be doing much of this anyway with any of your online travel purchases.

[thinfool]

A little more hassle, but I checked a one way to DFW-JFK (or was it IAH-JFK?) on one airline, and then a JFK-AMS one way on another airline. Total was about $700.